CRAZY! Farrell May Play Ozzy on The Big Screen

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Ozzy Osbourne has led a life destined for the big screen treatment. He’s bitten the head off a bat, attempted to kill his own wife in a drug-induced haze, snorted a line of ants while on tour, and made some of greatest hard rock music the world has ever known or ever will know. Of course, you know most of those details already. Ozzy’s life is so legendary, most of us can already recite its gory details by heart. It’s practically written in stone at this point. But that isn’t stopping Hollywood from trying to surprise audiences with an Ozzy biopic anyway. And, according to the folks at DigitalSpy, the Prince of F’ing Darknss will allegedly be played by Colin Farrell.

A source said: "At least Colin and Ozzy are on the same page when it comes to using four-letter words! Colin drinks, he smokes, he womanises. He's just a sleeve tattoo away from being a real rock star."

That source is bit behind on his Farrell history. Farrell has been sober for quite some time now. In fact, the rowdy Irishman credits sobriety with his recent career rebirth, featuring acclaimed performances in “Crazy Heart” and “In Bruges.” Like Osbourne, Farrell would like to think he’s craziest days are behind him. That kind of life experience could serve Farrell well as he attempts to play Ozzy in all his vodka-soaked glory.

Maybe you think Farrell playing Ozzy is a terrible idea, especially given that Johnny Depp was once reportedly in the mix for the role. And to that I say: Take time to remember that virtually all acclaimed musical biopics begin with a seemingly odd casting decision. Gary Busey as Buddy Holly? Really? And Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles? Trust me, it sounded stupid at the time. It’s hard to picture ANYONE playing Ozzy because we all now know him so well. He’s been a reality TV star. He’s been in movies and ads. Ozzy is such a public presence that it seems inconceivable someone else could occupy the same persona.

Rampaging Rockers and Mad Musicians

But that’s what actors are paid to do, and Farrell is a decidedly talented one. Watch “In Bruges” if you don’t believe me. He’ll do fine as Ozzy if all this comes to pass, especially since this Ozzy movie will almost certainly focus on Ozzy’s early career, and not his MTV megastar days. Farrell is 34. Ozzy is 61. They’re not gonna make up Farrell like old, trembling Ozzy. They’re gonna make him the young, Sabbath-leading, ant snorting hero of legend. Crazy, but that’s how it goes.